International Conference on Integrated Ocean Policy:
National and Regional Experiences, Prospects, and Emerging Practices
October 10-14, 2005, Lisbon, Portugal
PURPOSE
TOPS 2005 brought together key national level officials, regional organizations, UN agencies, scholars specializing in national ocean policy, donors, nongovernmental organizations, and industry to examine the growing experience around the world with the formulation and implementation of integrated ocean policies at national and regional levels, with the intent of drawing lessons and suggesting emerging best practices.
BACKGROUND
While most coastal nations of the world already have a variety of sectoral policies in place to manage different uses of the ocean (such as shipping, fishing, and oil and gas development), it has only been in the last decade that coastal nations have undertaken concerted efforts to articulate and implement an integrated vision for the governance of ocean areas under their jurisdiction-to harmonize existing uses and laws, to foster sustainable development of ocean areas, to protect biodiversity and vulnerable resources and ecosystems, and to coordinate the actions of the many government agencies that are typically involved in oceans affairs.
This is a very encouraging development, responding, as it does, to the reality of serious conflicts of use in most national ocean zones and to the prescriptions articulated in both the Law of the Sea and in the 1992 Earth Summit (given the interrelationship among uses and processes in the coast and ocean, ocean and coastal governance must be "integrated in content and precautionary and anticipatory in ambit").
TOPS 2005, the Ocean Policy Summit:
1. Presented in-depth analyses of the experiences of 23 nations and 3 regions of the world that have
taken concrete steps toward cross-cutting and integrated ocean policy (part of the cross-national
study undertaken by the Nippon Foundation Research Task Force on National Ocean Policies).
2. Presented the experience of other nations and regions, which have moved toward integrated ocean
policy.
3. Drew upon lessons from the experiences to date, especially in terms of:
* means of achieving sustained collaboration and coordination among national government
agencies on ocean policy, and of resolving cross-sectoral and intergovernmental conflicts
among users;
* approaches to regional marine planning and governance;
* means of linking oceans to coasts and to watersheds;
* means of financing national and regional ocean policies; and
* factors that account for effectiveness in the implementation of ocean policies
4. Developed suggested international guidance on emerging best practices in the development and
implementation of national ocean policies
5. Featured a one-day Ocean Strategy Workshop on factors and issues in ocean policy development
and implementation for decision makers in small island developing States, developing countries, and
countries with economies in transition.
CONFERENCE AT A GLANCE
Monday, October 10, 2005
* Pre-conference meetings:
o Participants wishing to organize side meetings could contact the organizers
o Donors Roundtable (by invitation)
o Community of Portuguese Speaking Nations (PCLP) Meeting (by invitation)
o Tours were also organized for this day
* Evening Reception at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Morning
* Conference Opening
* Panel 1. Integrated National and Regional Ocean Policies: A Growing Worldwide Phenomenon
* Special Presentation on The Status of the World's Exclusive Economic Zones under the Law of the
Sea: EEZ and Continental Shelf Delimitation, Assessment, and Management
Afternoon
* Panel 2. Learning from the Most Mature Cases: Canada and Australia
* Panel 3. Getting Started: Establishment of Integrated National and Regional Ocean Policies
* Reception at the Oceanário de Lisboa (Lisbon Aquarium)
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Morning
* Panel 4. Achieving Cross-Sectoral Harmonization of Ocean Uses and Agencies
* Panel 5. Principles for Integrated National and Regional Ocean Governance
Afternoon
* Working Group Discussions on International Guidance on National and Regional Ocean Policies and
Conference Statement
* Side Meeting: Industry Roundtable (by invitation)
* Evening Tour and Reception
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Morning
* Panel 6. Achieving National/Subnational Collaboration in National Ocean Policies
* Panel 7. Issues in Implementing National Ocean Policies: Putting the Policy into Operation, Financial
Considerations
Afternoon
* Panel 8. Regional Ocean Policies and International Implications of National Ocean Policies
* Panel 9. The Way Forward in Further Dissemination on Integrated Ocean Policy: Conference
Conclusions
* Closing Ceremony
* Reception, Secretary of State for Maritime Affairs, Portugal
Friday, October 14, 2005
* Ocean Strategy Workshop for Decision Makers from Small Island Developing States, Other
Developing Countries, and Countries with Economies in Transition. The workshop will cover : 1)
EEZ and continental shelf delimitation; 2) Multilateral negotiations in fisheries and other ocean-use
agreements; and 3) Developing freshwater, ocean and coastal linkages
* Tours
HOST COUNTRY AND VENUE
Portugal's history and traditions are rooted in the use of the oceans. Portugal, the first European nation to develop a comprehensive oceans strategy, reaffirms its strong connection to the seas. The country's decision to promote a comprehensive analysis of ocean issues was based upon the recognition that Portugal should pursue the management of its large maritime area not through a sector-by-sector approach but rather through the adoption of a long-term policy that embraces all aspects of the ocean using an intersectoral, interdisciplinary, and cross-cutting approach to ocean affairs.
The conference was held in Lisbon, the starting point of the discovery of new cultures, new lands, and new routes in the world's maritime history, at Expo '98, where the international exposition celebrating the International Year of the Ocean took place.
ORGANIZERS
International Ocean Governance Network, supported by the Nippon Foundation, Japan
Portuguese Intersectoral Ocean Commission, Ministry of Science and Higher Education
Port Authority of Lisbon
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Portugal
Gerard J. Mangone Center for Marine Policy, University of Delaware, USA
Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands
Marine and Environmental Law Institute, Dalhousie University, Canada
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Nippon Foundation, Japan
Port Authority of Lisbon
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Portugal
Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Secretary of State for Maritime Affairs, Portugal
Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD)
Oceanário de Lisboa
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), UNESCO
WHO ATTENDED?
* National-level government officials charged with the development and implementation of national
ocean policies
* Leaders from regional organizations working on ocean policies
* Academics working in the field of ocean and coastal management
* International agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and industry participants involved in ocean
and coastal management
* Leaders from small island developing States, developing countries, and countries with economies in
transition interested in the development and implementation of national ocean policies
CONFERENCE MATERIALS
Conference participants received the following materials for consideration at the conference:
Detailed case studies of countries working on integrated national and regional ocean policies
Summary information on all country and regional cases
Draft international guidance on national and regional ocean policies for discussion at the conference
Draft of conference statement
Educational materials on EEZ management for those participating in the Ocean Strategy Workshop
SELECTED INVITED SPEAKERS
INTERNATIONAL SPEAKERS
Dr. Awni Behnam, President, International Ocean Institute
Dr. Patricio Bernal, Executive Secretary, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, UNESCO
Commissioner Joe Borg, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, European Commission
Mr. Phil Burgess, Co-Chair, UN Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea
Hon. Ian Campbell, Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Australia
Dr. Chua Thia-Eng, Director, Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia
Dr. Biliana Cicin-Sain, Co-Chair and Head of Secretariat, Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands
Mr. Simon Cripps, Director, Endangered Seas Programme, World Wildlife Fund International
Ms. Annick de Marffy, Independent Consultant, former Director, UN Division of Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea
Hon. Stéphane Dion, Environment Minister, Canada
Dr. Alfred Duda, Senior Adviser, Global Environment Facility
Dr. Sylvia Earle, Executive Director, Global Marine Programme, Conservation International
Dr. Serge Garcia, Director, Marine Fisheries Resources, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Dr. Vladimir Golitsyn, Director, UN Division of Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea
Ms. Lynne Hale, Director, Marine Strategy, The Nature Conservancy
Dr. Indumathie Hewawasam, Senior Environmental Specialist, World Bank
Dr. Andrew Hudson, Principal Technical Advisor, International Waters, United Nations Development Programme
Ambassador Jagdish Koonjul, Mauritius and Chair, Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS)
Dr. Gerard J. Mangone, Professor, University of Delaware
Mr. Gerald Miles, The Nature Conservancy
Dr. Iouri Oliounine, Executive Director, International Ocean Institute
Mr. Tiago Pitta e Cunha, European Commission, former Coordinator, Portuguese Strategic Commission for Oceans
Ms. Cristelle Pratt, Director, South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission
Dr. Jean-François Pulvenis de Séligny, Director, Fishery Policy and Planning Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Ms. Diane Quarless, Chief, SIDS Unit, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Professor Mario Ruivo, Chairman, Portuguese Committee for IOC
Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, President, Nippon Foundation
Ambassador Enele Sopoaga, Tuvalu and Vice-Chair, AOSIS
Mr. John Turner, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Dr. David VanderZwaag, Head of IUCN Specialist Group on Ocean Law and Governance
Professor Jon Van Dyke, University of Hawaii School of Law
Dr. Veerle Vandeweerd, Director, UNEP Regional Seas Programme and UNEP-Global Programme of Action for the -Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities
SELECTED INVITED SPEAKERS ON NATIONAL AND REGIONAL OCEAN POLICIES
Australia: Donna Petrachenko, Director, National Oceans Office; Ben Addison, National Oceans Office; Russell Reichelt, CEO, CRC Reef Research Center
Brazil: Milton Asmus, Professor, Fundação Universidade Federal do Rio Grande; Dr. Ademilson Zamboni, Coordinator, National Coastal Zone Management Program, Brazil
Canada: Camille Mageau, Director, DFO; David VanderZwaag, Professor, Dalhousie University
China: Haiqing Li, Director, International Affairs, State Oceanic Administration; Yang Jinsen, China Institute for Marine Affairs
Cook Islands: Robert Woonton, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Marine Resources; John Low, Independent Consultant
France: Elie Jarmache, Secrétariat Général de la Mer
India: Harsh K. Gupta, Secretary, Department of Ocean Development
Jamaica: Laletta Davis-Mattis, National Environment Planning Authority; Franklin McDonald, former Director, National Environment Planning Authority; Peter Edwards, University of West Indies and University of Delaware
Japan: Hiroshi Terashima, Executive Director, Institute for Ocean Policy, Ocean Policy Research Foundation; Moritaka Hayashi, Waseda University
Mexico: Antonio Diaz de Leon, Director-General, Environmental Policy, SEMARNAT;Evelia Rivera-Arriaga, Professor, Centro EPOMEX
Netherlands: Els. M. de Wit, Senior Policy Advisor, Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management; Han Lindeboom, Senior Scientist, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research
New Zealand: Prue Taylor, Senior Lecturer, Department of Planning, University of Auckland
Norway: Terje Lobach, Senior Legal Adviser, Directorate of Fisheries; Alf Hakon Hoel, Associate Professor, University of Tromso
Philippines: Robert Jara, Department of Environment and Natural Resources; Jay Batongbacal, Philippine Center for Marine Affairs, Inc.
Portugal: Mario Ruivo, Chairman, Portuguese Committee for IOC; Tiago Pitta e Cunha, Member, Cabinet of Fisheries and Maritime Commissioner, EU
Russian Federation: Yuriy M. Kolochkov, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade; Genrikh K. Voytolovskiy, Council for Study of Productive Forces; Yuriy Mikhaylichenko, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade
Tanzania: Mrs. Zakia Hamdani Meghji, Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism; Magnus Ngoile, Director-General, Environmental Management Council
United States: Biliana Cicin-Sain, Professor, University of Delaware, and Charles Ehler, Vice Chair, IUCN WCPA-Marine;
United Kingdom: John Roberts, Head, Marine and Waterways Division, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Hance Smith, Professor, Cardiff University
Vietnam: Nguyen Chu Hoi, Ministry of Fisheries; Hoang Ngoc Giao, Vietnam National University
Africa region: Ali Mohamed, New Partnership for Africa's Development; Indu Hewawasam, Africa Region, World Bank
South Pacific: Transform Aqorau, Legal Counsel, Forum Fisheries Agency; Cristelle Pratt, South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission; Seremaia Tuqiri, WWF (South Pacific Programme)
European Union: John Richardson, Head, Maritime Policy Task Force, Directorate-General Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, European Commission, Tiago Pitta e Cunha, European Commission, Stefano Belfiore, IOC
